2. The swords are impressively, nerdily detailed

Swords are central to the world of Westeros, so the show hired armourer Tommy Dunne — whose CV includes Braveheart, Saving Private Ryan and Gladiator — as “weapons master” (cool job title, huh?). Dunne researched thousands of swords, looking up European, Egyptian and Mongolian arms, before coming up with all the Great Houses’ bladed heirlooms and individual characters’ swords.

Ned Stark’s sword Ice needed to tell the story of the Stark household, so took three weeks to hand-forge with pattern-welding and etchings. Pommels are also significant: Jeor Mormont’s Longclaw has a hand-carved wolf, while Gregor Clegane’s is modelled on old Celtic Irish weaponry. The White Walkers’ swords might look like CGI ice but they’re actually real, fully useable swords finished with acrylic resin, with the layers overlapping in a snake-scale design.

There are also nods to other famous fantasy tales on the Iron Throne. One of the swords on the famed King's Landing chair is Robin Hood’s. Another is a replica of Gandalf’s glamdring from Lord Of The Rings.